Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)

• The IOD is a climate phenomenon characterized by the difference in sea surface temperatures (SST) between two regions of the Indian Ocean: the western equatorial Indian Ocean (near the African coast) and the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean (near the Indonesian coast).

The IOD has two phases:

Positive Phase (IOD+)

• During a positive IOD phase, the western Indian Ocean becomes cooler than normal, while the eastern Indian Ocean near Indonesia becomes warmer than normal. This results in a temperature gradient across the Indian Ocean.
• The warmer waters near Indonesia lead to increased convection and rainfall over that region, while the cooler waters near Africa suppress convection and lead to drier conditions. This can have significant impacts on weather patterns and climate across surrounding regions.

Negative Phase (IOD-)

• During a negative IOD phase, the temperature gradient between the western and eastern Indian Ocean weakens, leading to more uniform sea surface temperatures across the basin.
• This can result in different weather patterns compared to the positive phase.

Impact of IOD

• The IOD is known to influence weather patterns in various parts of the world, particularly regions bordering the Indian Ocean.
• It can impact the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, East Africa, and even Australia. The positive phase of the IOD is associated with droughts in parts of Australia, Indonesia, and India, while the negative phase can lead to increased rainfall in those regions.
• The Indian Ocean Dipole is an important consideration for meteorologists, climatologists, and policymakers as it plays a significant role in shaping climate variability and can have far-reaching impacts on agriculture, water resources, ecosystems, and economies in the affected areas.

 Must Check: IAS Coaching Centre In Delhi